In contemporary societies, significant changes in both societal structure and individual lifestyles have resulted in the growing diversity of family life. However, at both the national and international levels, there is still abundance of discourses which reinforce the narrow definition of “ideal” family types by relying on heteronormative and patriarchal structures in their definition. Steps toward equality based on gender and sexual orientation enhance not only individual rights, but also introduce fundamental shifts in our understanding and imaginations of families. Our goal for this interim meeting is to challenge the narrow and restrictive discourses on an idealized family type and achieve a more inclusive sociological understanding of families by emphasizing the plurality of family forms, relationships, practices and experiences.
International research has introduced new venues for studying families from intersectional, decolonial, and non-heteronormative perspectives. We open our call for proposals on the broader exploration of diverse family ties and experiences, taking into account the individual, interactional, and structural level factors shaping them. We welcome papers that examine how social policies, multiple crises, social movements and demographic transitions limit or enable this diversity.
This thematic orientation does not preclude any other proposals focused on this field. We most certainly welcome theoretical, methodological, or empirical papers that explore alternative research venues on family and intimate lives as well.
Requirements for the abstracts
Submissions for the conference should contain an abstract of max. 500 words, outlining (where applicable) the research question, the theoretical framework, the methodology and data used, as well as empirical findings and contributions.
Important dates
- February 15, 2025 – Deadline for abstract submission
- March 31, 2025 – Announcement of accepted abstracts
- April 1, 2025 – Registrations open
- May 31, 2025 – Registrations close
Practical information
- If the number of slots for oral presentations is exceeded, some accepted papers will have the opportunity to be presented as a poster.
- Selected papers of the ESA RN13 Interim Meeting 2025 in Ankara will have the opportunity to be published in a special issue of an academic journal (TBC).
- Conference attendance is free for members of the ESA RN13 and costs €50 for non-members. Registration for non-members and non-presenters costs €10.
- RN13 encourages participation of junior scholars and PhD students, who will be considered for best PhD paper awards, with two prizes of €250 each. When submitting abstract as a PhD student/junior scholar, please indicate that you want to participate in the competition. Please be advised that only those who have not yet defended their doctoral dissertations are eligible for these awards.